Beer tap fitting



June 8, 1937. F. M. sPAYD BEER TAP FITTING Filed De. 19, 15334 0 aan eybz,

ATTORNEY Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STA'E'E ATE f OFFICE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid dispensing apparatus and more particularly to beer dispensers and cleaning apparatus therefor.

One object of the invention is the provision of a beer keg or the like having a tting through which the draft tube can be inserted and having a bayonet connection with the keg bung, the

fitting having a self-closing valve adapted to be opened and to be held open by the draft tube,

but normally closed when the draft tube is withdrawn so that the pressure within the keg may be maintained.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a self-closing valve fitting adapted to be readily attached to and disconnected from a barrel bung, and having attaching means at its opposite ends which are complementary to one another so that the fitting is adapted for use with standard connections.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a portion of a 2 5 beer dispensing system, showing a valve fitting embodying the present invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 6 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a central sectional view of the fitting adapted for detachable connection to the lower end of the draft tube for cleaning purposes.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by 35 reference numerals, I0 represents a beer keg or the like, having the usual bung I I and containing a quantity of beer as indicated at I2. The beer is withdrawn from the keg through a draft tube I3, the lower end of which is closed as shown in 40 Fig. 6, a. series of holes I4, however, being provided a short distance above the bottom of the tube so that the beer may be forced through the draft tube to the control valve I5 which controls the flow through the dispensing pipe I6 which connects to the refrigerated coils leading in turn to the faucet or faucets.

In the usual construction the bung is provided with a coupling I8 having a bayonet type union with the bung I I so that the inturned flanges` I9 of the coupling may be applied to the slots 2D of the bung and the coupling then rotated for attachment to the bung. Usually the coupling I8 is connected directly to a fitting 22 through which the draft tube extends, the joint between 55 the draft tube and the fitting 22 being sealed by a compressible washer or packing which is tightened after4 the draft tube is inserted by means of a thumb nut 23. The fitting 22 is also supplied with a projection 2li having connection to a pressure gas supply pipe 25 so that the air pressure may be applied to the outside of the draft tube and thus through the space between the draft tube and the fitting to the interior of the keg. It will be understood that the fitting 22 having the coupling I3 attached is applied to the bung il and the draft tube I3 then inserted so as to drive the cork, with which the opening Z of the bung is initially provided, into the keg. However, in the usual construction, the draft tube Cannot be withdrawn without losing the pressure prevailing within the keg, since the release of the pressure gas is then possible through the tube receiving passage. This has made it necessary to leave the draft tube in position until the entire contents of the keg have been consumed or withdrawn.

In accordance with the present invention, the coupling I8 is provided at the lower end of a valve tting 28,- the lower end of whichis received within the upwardly extending boss 29 of the coupling portion. Rotatably mounted on the lower end of the valve fitting is a thumb nut 30 which is detachably threaded to the boss 28 and which bears against a flange 3l on the valve fitting so that when the nut 30 is screwed down on the coupling i8 the valve fitting 28 is forced down securely, compressing a washer or packing 32 between its lower end and the upperside of the bung II, thus sealing the connection between these two parts.

The lower end of the valve fitting 28 including the coupling portion I8 is otra form complementary to its upper end, the upper end of the fitting having a bayonet form of connection as indicated at 34 so that it may be readily secured to a coun pling 35 which is similar in form to the coupling portion I 8. Coupling 35 forms a connection between the valve fitting and the fitting'22, the thumb nut 36 being threaded on the coupling 35 and serving to hold the tting 22 down securely on the upper part of the valve fitting, a compressible washer or packing 37 being provided between these parts. By reason of the complementary form of the attachment at the top and at the bottom of the valve fitting 23, the latter may be applied beween the standard form top fitting 22 and the bung lI to which the top f1tting is ordinarily attached.

The valve tting is provided with a chamber 38 having a valve seat 39 which is normally en- 43 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l, in a yielding manner. Provided centrally on Y the upper side of the valve face is a rounded knob 45 which 'is engaged by the lower end of the draft tube when the draft tube is inserted, so that the valve member 4U will then be swung down away from the valve seat without permit ting the draft tube to strike against the rubber seat 4I.

It will now be apparent that with the fitting 22 applied to the top of the Valve fitting 2,3, and with the latter applied to the bung II of `a keg of beer, the draft tube I3 may be inserted through the upper end o f the upper fitting 22 tor drive the cork down out of the bung 'and int' the keg. As the draft tube I3 has a rather snug t with the upper' Aend of the fitting 22, the initialpressurey of the 'keg isv maintained, and

as the beer isi withdrawn Vfrom the keg the pressure VWithinthe keg may b'ewsupplemented by a ovv through'the pipe 25 'to the space 'around the draft tube. With this arrangement, the draft tube may be Withdrawn from the vkeg without losing the keg pressure, foras soon as thee'nd of the draft tube is moved up past the valve member 4U, the latter swings upwardly and entirely closes'thepassage through the' valve fitting beforethe draft tube is entirely withdrawn through the end of the upper tting 22'. This Vmakes it possible t'o transport a paitlyer'nptied keg'oif beer after withdrawing the draft tube.

\The`p rovision of a'valve tti'ng 28`on ya beer keg is'pfarticularly advantageous as a means providing Aaccess to thelower endv of' the draft tube for cleaning purposes.

The inside of the 'draft tube, andthe wallsjof the beer coils `to which the draft tube is attached become fouled and coated evenftl'iough in use only a comparatively short time, larid ordinarily access to (the lower end o fv the draftY @be is* impossible. 'fbi' Cleaning P111- po'sesjuntil the contents of the keg to which the draft tube happens` to b e applied are exhausted.

When a valve fit ng is used having a valveadapt-v ed tof close the passageopened by the-removal of the draft tube and before the end o'f the draft'l tube 'is taken from the upper end ofthe fitting,r

the Ydraft tube I3 inay`be withdrawn whenever;

desired,"and the lower end of the Ydraft tube can then be connected to a cleaning uid supply apparatusA sof that the entire lengthroffthe beer dispensing line can be cleaned by a flow of fluid under `'pressure'.

A 'special fitting 4.] isprovidedv as aA means forA attachment of the 'cleaning apparatus to the lower end of the draft tube so that the cleaning fluid can,` enter the a body memb r 48Min threaded engagement with tube `I3fthrough the holes' I4. This fitting 41, as shownA in Fig. 6comprises aosazsi 1 In combination, a liquid dispensing pressure l tank, a quickly detachable connection on said tank having a'passage therethrough, said connection having a bayonet attachment at its lower end' providing for quick fastening to the tank and having an opposed complementary bayonet attachment at itsother end, a liquid withdrawal tube removably inserted in said passage and communicanng 'with a low point in the tank, said connection havingy a valve 'adapted forv closingsaid pas'sagelbut held open when said tube is in place, and a fitting having a bayonet attachment adapted forV connection withmt'heY second men# tioned bayonet attachmentof said connection, said fitting having means prqviddfbeyoiidsaid valve for sealing the joint between said tube and' connection. u

Y 2. In "combination, a liquid dispensing pressure tank, a quickly detachable connection on said` tank having afpassa'ge therethrough, said con. nectionhavi'ng a bayonet attaehmentfat iits lower end providing for quick fastening to the tank and having an opposed complementary bayonet attachment at its other end, avvithdrawal tube removably inserted in said passage andcommunicating with aAlow point in the tank, a self-closing 'valve in said connection adaptedto close said passagevand to be opened rb yvthe endt of said tube and 4to be held oplehfby saidtube,

means provided beyond said valve' for sealing' second bayonet portion which is'similar in site and shape'to the, bayonetlportion on'th'e bung, a tap rod,`said fittingfhaizing a passage receiving thejtapwr'od vand having'a -self-closingvalveadaptedto close said passage andto beopened by the end of saidtap rod and totbe heldopen by said tapfrod, andia second fitting; having a bayof` net portionconnected to the said second ,bayonet p'ortionofsaid first fitting, said second `fitting having means supplying gas underV pressure 'to' said first ttingzon `the outer side ofthe tapfrod4 and having means for .sealing the j dint between it and the/en rod.

'4. A valve `fitting of thercharacter described having a bayonet 'lower en'd adapted ."for quickt attachmentto a kegbung and having a'jbayonet upper,v end of complementary forni and adapted for quick attachment to al taprodA holder, said fitting comprisinglajhousing and la. valve in said housingl normallyfclosged lagainst its scatto {preve'n't outflow of 'fluid, said valvebeingadaptedfto be pushed open bythe end'of a tap'ro'd'.

l 5. A valve fitting of the character described having a lower bayonet end adapted for quick attachment to a keg bung and having an upper bayonet end of the same size but of complementary form and adapted for quick attachment to a tap rod holder, said fitting comprising a housing having a passage extending from end to end thereof and between said bayonet ends, and a valve in said housing having spring means normally holding it against its seat and thereby preventing any outflow from the opening of the tting which is attachable to the bung, said Valve being adapted to be pushed open by the end of the tap rod as the tap rod is inserted.

6. A valve tting for kegs of the character described comprising a housing having a passage therethrough from one end to the other through which a tap rod can be moved and having a selfclosing valve for normally sealing said passage but adapted to be pushed open by the end of the tap rod and held open by the tap rod, said housing having a bayonet lower end adapted for quick attachment to a keg bung, means to supply gas under pressure to said fitting outwardly of said valve, and means located outwardly of the valve and operable to seal the joint between the tap rod and the fitting.

7. A valve tting of the character described, adapted for use with kegs and the like, comprising a housing having a passage therethrough from one end to the other through which a tap rod can be moved and having a pivotally mounted self-closing valve for normally sealing said passage and provided between the ends of said passage, said valve having an annular seat surface of yielding material and having a central projection for engagement with the end of the tap rod for opening of the valve when the tapv rod is inserted and adapted for entry in a portion of said passage when the tap rod is removed, said housing having a bayonet lower end below said valve adapted for quick attachment to a keg bung, and a connection at the opposite end of said housing and outwardly of said valve for supplying pressure gas.

FRED M. SPAYD. 

